Thoughts on the Passing of My Father-in-Law

Walter, you have the same sense of our times as do I. In simplest terms, we are lamenting the passing of a set of values that my father-in-law embodied and lived.
He is physically gone; his spirit, his honor, his courage of conviction, his spirit are very much alive.

Jane also talks about the “Greatest Generation” – its values – and how her father – and mother – as did my parents – lived through tough times and retained humane, decent, healthy values. We have lost those values that matter most and undergird the survival of the human race.

As we approach the funeral, what matters now is that his formal departure does not disparage his life of honor as siblings fight with each other for various reasons.

The late historian Barbara Tuchman said it simply. We will regain our health when we restore the concept of honor to our affairs. Honor is defined as the respect of good people. We sadly, badly need to restore honor as a driving value in our affairs – as well as the basic religious values that grew our civilization.

We shall see. It may be too late, but as the late philosopher Russell Kirk observed, nothing is ever won or lost forever.

Yes, the human body decays, but the human spirit is made of stronger “stuff,” as the Bible teaches. We are indeed made in the “image of God,” and when we are true to this, our spirits soar and all they touch with them.

The funeral for my father-in-law is a celebration of the human spirit. I thank him for this gift of example, which I plan to follow. Thank you for your kind words.

Paul